Overview of GURME The WMO GAW Urban Research Meteorology and Environment project

1. Overview of GURMEThe WMO GAW Urban Research Meteorology and Environment project Liisa Jalkanen WMO Secretariat

2. World Meteorological Organization • Independent technical UN agency • 187 Members manage through WMO Congress and Executive Council • Secretariat in Geneva (staff 280) • Technical Departments • Observing and Information Systems (OBS) • Climate and Water (CLW) • Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction Services (WDS) • Research (RES) • Atmospheric Research and Environment Branch (ARE) • Atmospheric Environment Research Division (AER) • Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) • GURME

3. THE GAW MISSION • Systematic long-term monitoring of atmospheric chemical and physical parameters globally • Analysis and assessment • Development of predictive capability

4. GAW observations • Stratospheric Ozone • Tropospheric Ozone • Greenhouse Gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs) • Reactive Gases (CO, VOC, NOy, SO2) • Precipitation Chemistry • Aerosols (chemical, physical, AOD) • UV Radiation • (Natural Radionuclides, Rn222, Be7,14CO)

5. Components of the GAW Programme

6. GAW Station Information System … GAWSISOnline - comprehensive information on all GAW stations • Database • Search / Update • Inventory / Audit (Supported by Switzerland)

7. GAW Urban Research Meteorology and Environment GURME project

8. GAW Urban Research Meteorology and Environment Project (GURME) • To enhance the capabilities of NMHSs and others in providing urban-environmental forecasting and air quality services of high quality, illustrating the linkages between meteorology and air quality; • To provide NMHSs and others with easy access to information on measurement and modeling techniques; • To promote a series of pilot projects to demonstrate how NMHSs and others can successfully expand their activities into urban environment issues; • In collaboration with other WMO programmes, WHO and environmental agencies, to better define meteorological and air quality measurements focusing specifically on those that support urban forecasting.

10. Mexico City, Mexico Santiago, Chile Sao Paulo, Brazil Example of GURME project: Latin American Cities Improvement of AQ forecasting in Latin American cities through capacity building • First Air Quality Forecasting Workshop for the Latin American Cities October, 2003, Santiago, Chile; • Workshop on application of WRF/Chem Model and Use of Remote sensing, 2006, Sao Paulo • Training Workshop on AQF for Latin American countries, 2006, Lima NMHSs - Universities - Environmental Agencies

11. Another example: Shanghai MHEWS Shanghai is a mega-city situated on the shores of the East China Sea and the Yangtze River Mouth • dense population: 18 millon • rapid economic development: aiming to be the economic, financial, trade, and transportation center of China. • Threat of Multi-Hazard to Shanghai: frequently affected by natural hazards such as typhoons and associated marine hazards such as storm surge, heavy storms, heavyfog, heat-waves, and by atmospheric pollution episodes Shanghai GURME project: air pollution, heat island, urban relevant meteorological measurements

12. Integrated Global Atmospheric Chemistry Observations WMO GAW/IGACO • EXPO 2010 • Better City, Better Life • WMO has confirmed officially its participation. • The pavilion is planned to have three components: • Multi-hazard early warning demonstration • Integrated global observing system • Climate change • Other agreed activities: • Second World Conference on Broadcast Meteorology • with live weather forecast around the world during the conference (planned)

13. North Elevation A Contour-Design Description of the Pavilion named “Cloud Droplets”

14. GURME measurements: Passive Samplers Project lead:Greg Carmichael, Martin Ferm Measured gases:SO2, NH3, O3, NO, NO2, HCOOH, CH3COOH, benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, xylenes. Ideal for: Mapping concentrations in cities, siting of more advanced stations, personal monitoring. Advantages: small, no electricity needed, no inlets, large measurement range, technical personnel not needed at site, 100 % time coverage can be obtained, simple to deploy, easy to mail, inexpensive.

15. GURME FOCUS: Air Quality Modelling and Forecasting

16. GURME Air Quality Workshops • Regional Workshop (WS) on Air Quality Forecasting (AQF) • August 2000, Kuching, Malaysia • Expert Workshop on AQF • October 2002, Cuernavaca, Mexico • Expert WS on AQF for Latin American project • October 2003, Santiago de Chile • Training WS on AQF WRF Chem and Satellites • January 2006, Sao Paulo, Brazil • Training WS on (Basic) AQFfor Latin American Countries • July 2006, Lima, Peru • Training Course on Air Quality Forecasting for India and South Asia • December 2008, Pune, India • Training Course on AQ Modelling for Latin American • Cities project • 10 – 14 August 2009, Mexico City

17. Important findings from the AQF workshops include: • There is growing experience and interest in air quality forecasting; • Air quality forecasting and management share a common science-base; • Improvements in AQ forecasting will come from: 1. Better understanding of local situations and of key processes (e.g., local winds, boundary layer dynamics); 2. Increasing accuracy in the meteorological forecasts; 3. The act of doing – increased experience will lead to enhanced capability; 4. Improvements in emission estimates. GURME Experts Meeting In Cuernavaca Mexico

18. GURME Training Course • Develop and deliver to staff in national meteorological services, scientists and others involved in air quality issues. • Designed to provide the background knowledge needed to design, develop, implement and evaluate air quality modelling and/or forecasting activities. • The course contains practical advice, introduces the participants to available tools and methods • First course was developed by the GURME Training Team (GTT) and the first 5-d training workshop was held in Lima, Peru July 2006 • Pune, India, course Dec 2008 new items, local experts • Mexico City, local and Latin American project expertise, focus on modelling and on WRF • Course planned to be held in Shanghai • Material available on the web

19. Good news is: • Air quality forecast • can be changed!

20. WMO large interest in early warning systems (EWS) especially multi-hazard (MH), that is: MHEWS Air pollution is part of multi-hazards GURME

21. Shifting Disaster Risk Reduction from Reaction to Prevention • Traditionally, disaster risk management approach has been focused on emergency response and recovery measures • Shifting disaster risk management to a more comprehensive approach, involving • Prevention • Preparedness and contingency (unforeseen event) planning • Emergency response and recovery measures.

22. Need for Coordination between Agencies for Development and Issuance of a Warning Message Early Detection, Monitoring and Warning Services Develop hazard monitoring and early warning services Type I Type II Type III Hazard under mandate of other agencies but NMHS contribute e.g. locust, heat-health and epidemics, volcanic ash transport, man-made hazards Hazard fully under the mandate of NMHS e.g. strong winds, strong rainfall, snow/ice, hail, tropical cyclone Hazard under joint mandate of NMHS and other agencies e.g. floods, air pollution, etc. Level of coordination between NMHS and other agencies

23. Collaboration critical for success!